Jordan Times
Monday, February 12, 2007
PM urges efforts to
promote higher education sector
DEAD SEA (Petra) — Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit on Sunday underlined the
importance of higher education, stressing His Majesty King Abdullah’s concern
about this vital sector and its contribution to society.
Deputising for King Abdullah at the opening of the Higher Education Development
Forum yesterday, Bakhit highlighted the role of higher education, adding the
King’s directives affirm the need of a strategic plan that can tackle obstacles
facing higher education institutions.
In a letter to Bakhit last week, the King said the government should prepare a
work plan with a clear timetable to upgrade the higher education sector and
enhance scientific research, which are key to reform and modernisation.
“The Jordanian citizens are the driving force behind development,” the Monarch
said in the letter. “Education and empowerment of citizens will continue to
sustain a high degree of excellence.”
During the forum, organised by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific
Research in cooperation with the World Bank, the premier called on educational
institutions to coordinate their efforts to promote the higher education sector.
He also urged them to come up with suggestions and solutions on how to meet
future challenges in the world of technology and know-how, in tandem with slow
economic growth, an increase in the population growth rate and the lack of vital
resources, including water, food and energy.
The premier also emphasised the government’s role in developing related
legislation to ensure high quality education in order to provide the local,
regional and international labour markets with qualified human resources.
Addressing Arab and foreign education experts, Bakhit highlighted the need to
support scientific research and encourage practical research through the
Scientific Research Fund, to meet development needs.
World Bank Representative Murad Izzeddine emphasised the role the bank plays in
assisting the stages of early, basic and secondary education and providing new
job opportunities and training. He affirmed that the bank would continue to
support the country in its drive to develop the higher education sector.
Abdul Salam Majali, head of a committee developing education policies, said
outstanding scientific research and creative technological development could
help solve major problems related to the fields of industry, water, energy and
health.
Majali highlighted the role of universities in creating and educating leaders
and developing their skills.
In his address at the forum, Minister of Education, Higher Education and
Scientific Research Khalid Touqan reviewed the ministry’s efforts to develop
human resources, promote creative thinking and student levels, upgrade teaching
staff, organise the education sector and deal with challenges.
He said development and change is mandatory and inevitable for the higher
education sector in view of the challenges imposed by globalisation.
Touqan also stressed the necessity of facing the challenges of infrastructure,
increasing numbers of students, and funding curricula and programmes.